Equipment for electrical installations



March 2G, 1945. E. JOHANSSON ET AL 2,372,6353

EQUIPMENT FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS 2W im Much 20 1945' E. G. JCAHANSSQN ETAT. r

EQUIPMENT FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS Filed Dec. 5, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 20, 1945.

EQUIPMENT FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS Filed Dec. 5, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 `m O laf/'E11 O ,ZZ-'fili fj;

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WITNESSES:

E, G. JQEMANSQN ET AL.

EQUIPMENT FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS Marsh 2%, Willi l- Sheeis-Shee't A' Filed DSC. 5, 1941 wlTNEssEs; @774 opening is left therebetween.

Patented Mar'. 20, 1.945

EQUIPMENT FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS Ernest G. Johansson, Belmont, Mass., and Arthur A. Young, Manchester, N. H., assignors to Anchor Manufacturing Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 5, 1941, Serial No. 421,786

4 claims (c1. 174-51) The present invention relates to equipment for housing electrical 'apparatus such as circuit breakers and the like. It has particular relation to a receptacle which is suitable for either iiush or projection mounting and includes means for detachably securing therein a .plurality of interrupting devices for controlling individual load circuits.

The copending patent applications of Harry P. Sparkes, Serial Nos. 407,453, which became Patent 2,323,252, issued June 29, 1943, and 407,454, iiled August 19, 1941 relate broadly to electrical service and load center installations which are readiltr adaptable to handle the various changes in load requirements which-have been so troublesome and expensive to consumers in the past. In order to accomplish this, the equipment disclosed in these applications is designed so that an adjustable number of circuit controlling devices are secured in a receptacle in a readily attachable and detachable manner. The present invention relates to features which have been found particularly advantageous when used with the constructions of the aforesaid applications although it will appear to those skilled in the art that they are by no means limited to such use.

Installations of the type in question are frequently made with the supporting receptacle disposed within a wall structure so that its cover is nush with the outer wall surface', while at other times it is necessary to support the receptacle in a position projecting from the Wall. The present invention provides a receptacle and cover assembly which is readily adaptable for either type of mounting and the cover is further designed to properly engage the circuit controlling devices to close the space thereabout irrespective of variations which may occur in the spacing therebetion include a novel spring clamping arrange?- ment for individually securing the breakers in the receptacle in a readily attachable and detachable manner and contact fingers normally disposed at the location of the breaker terminals for rapid attachment thereto. The fingers are preferably supported from a strip of insulating material to prevent other conductors resting directly on the conducting material.4

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an electrical receptacle assembly which is readily adaptable for use -in flush or projection mounted installations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel self-adjusting cover structure for an electrical receptacle.

Still another object of the invention is to providea novel and improved arrangement for securing an adjustable number of circuit controlling devices in position within a receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a readily attaehable and detachable contact making arrangement for use in a receptacle adapted tween. The opening in the cover may also be adjusted in size to accommodate the selected number of devices in the receptacle.

In a preferred form of the invention, the cover comprises a main or front portion 'having an opening large enough to permit access to the operating handles of the maximum number of circuit breakers or controlling .devices which the receptacle will house. An auxiliary panel, having an opening adjustable in size, is resilintly sup' ported from said front portion in biased engagement with the fronts of the breakers' about their operating handles. Forwardly extending perimetral flange portions are provided about the openings in the'two cover portions to insure that no Other important features of the present invenmodified cover construction;

to accommodate an adjustable number of circuit controlling devices.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed descrip-A tion read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in an electrical load center installation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line II--II of Fig. 1;

A Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the apparatus of.

Fig. 1v with the front cover removed;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of a portion of apparatus similar to Fig. 1 arranged for a projection mounted installation with the outer perimetral portion of the cover re-4 moved;

Fig. 6 is a view similar 'to Fig. 5 showing a Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the front portion of a modiiied receptacle construction suitable for either ilush or projection mounting;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. '1 taken along the line VIII-V111 thereof;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 7 adapted for iiush moimting;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 9 taken along the line X-X thereof;

, Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the contact members shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

, tacle similar to that of Fig. 15 adapted for a proj ection mounting installation;

Fig. 1'7 is a perspective view of the angle meml bers employed to adapt the receptacle of Figs. 14 and 15 for iiush mounting; and

Fig. 18 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of I a portion of the apparatus taken along the line XVIII-XVIII of Fig. 13 to show the construction of a panel for closing the cover.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the apparatus includes an open front receptacle 2 which is preferably formed of sheet metal or the like. The open front of this receptacle is adapted to be closed by a cover member designated generally as 3, and angle members d may be attached to the top and bottom thereof by means of machine screws 6 to facilitate attachment to supporting studs or portions of a wall. n

Secured within the receptacle by any suitable means such as welding to the rear thereof, for

example, is a circuit breaker clamping structure designated generally as i. This structure is de'- signed to individually engage circuit breakers 8 or the like in a readily attachable and detachable manner so that up to a predetermined number of such breakers may be disposed in the receptacle in side by side relationship. it includes a rst transverse metal strap la secured to the receptaclev by welding or some other suitable means and a lower strap 'Eb secured thereto in a similar manner'. These straps are forwardly onset; at le andy 'id respectively to form a sup,- porting base for the breakers.

Rigid clamping fingers e are formed in spaced relationship along'the upper strap la to t within a notch l2 in the upper surface of a correspondling breaker 3. 'In addition, a lower clamping iinger il is disposed in yertical alignment with each uppernger for engagement with a notch it in the bottom of the breaker t opposite the notch i2. These latter ngers are preferably of resilient construction and each includes edge portions .I4 bent inwardly *at an angle'to be engaged by may be removed in a similarly convenient manner, Vby forcing the edge portions out of the notch Y I 3 and reversing the above operation.

` At spaced positions in substantial alignment with .the clampingngers, the lower strap is slit to provide a forwardly extending. lip or stop member I6. These stop members are designed to en gage the lower bottom portion of breakers in at` tached positions against the base 'Ic-ld to fur-V 10 well known knock out.

2 l asvaoss weight ofthe breakers and need only bias them f inwardly against the vertical base.

The cover includes a main' central portion i8 and an outer perimetral portion i9 which may be formed integrally therewith but separated therefrom by lines 2i weakened by forming grooves or slits therealong in the manner of the In addition the outer portion may be further weakened across the corners as at Zia to facilitate its removal from the main portion. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the receptacle is flush mounted within a wall and the cover is vsecured thereto by means of machine screws 23 extending therethrough into engagement with screw threaded holes 2e in an inwardly extending front perimetral portion 26 of the receptacle.

installation to cover its open front. In a ush mounted installation as shown in Fig. 2, however, the outer perimetral portion i9 of the cover is '25 ladaptedto engage the outer surface of a wall 2l.

The central portion i8 of the cover is provided with an opening 28 in alignment with the front portions of the circuit breakers e to permit access to operating handles 29of the maximum 30 number of such breakers thatthe'apparatus will accommodate. 4This opening is surroounded by an inwardly offset portion t! which is substantially perpendicular 'tothe main cover surface. In addition a pair of brackets or supporting members 32 are disposed inside the portion it of tire cover on opposite sides of the opening to support helical springs 33. An auxiliary cover panell including a perimetral flange portion et telescopi- -cally fitting outside the portion 3i of the cover e0 is resiliently biased away from the cover itself by angles3l fitting against the springs 33 within the bracket members 32 which limit the biased movement. Although some other adjustable opening arrangement might be employed as hereinafter set forth, the auxiliary cover panel is preferably weakened along lines S8 by forming slits or grooves to provide 'a plurality of knockouts each of which is in alignment with the front of a circuit breaker in each position provided within the v5o receptacle. As shown by way of example in Figs.

l to 4, the apparatus is designed to accommodate up to .six breakers with four actually in place. .Thus the corresponding four knockout portions of the auxiliary cover panel are removed andthe Y springs 33 bias it against the breakers toclose the opening thereabout. This resilient supporting arrangement insures that the' auxiliary cover panel will engage the breakers despite variations in the main cover position whichmay arise between different flush lmounted installations and between flush and projection mounted installations. In addition, the adjustable cooperation between the offset or ange portions 3| and 38 prevent any undesired openings between the main 05 cover 3 and the auxiliary panel34. VWhile itfis preferred that the auxiliary panel be supported ,from the cover it may in some cases be desirable to support it resiliently from the front of the receptacle instead. Such a modification is clearly The central portion it of the 2u cover is of such a size that it engages this nortion of the receptacle in a projection mounted lines into the top of the receptacle and a pair of conduits 4I for carrying the load circuit conductors into the bottom thereof. The incoming power conductors may comprise a three wire ditstribution system and include a ground wire 43 electrically connected to a ground conducting strip 44 in the bottom of the receptacle and a pair of ungrounded conductors 46.

A connecting member, which is also shown in Figs. 1l and 12 includes a conducting strip 41 having a plurality of iiexible conducting fingers 48 extending therefrom in substantially perpendicular relationship thereto. Each conducting strip is supported upon a fibre or insulator strap 49 by means of countersunk rivets 50. While the member is shown by way of example as including three conducting fingers it will be understood that this number may be varied within the scope of the invention and that a. plurality of conducting strips may be secured to a single fibre strap in insulated relationship. The insulating strap 49 preferably projects past the edges of the strip 41 on all sides as shown in Figs. l1 and 12.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawings, each of the circuit breakers 8t includes upper and lower electrical terminals and 52, respectively, and the connecting' members are disposed within the receptacle'for engagement with the upper terminals of the breakers. To this end one of the line conductors 46 is electrically connected to the terminal 5I 'of one of the first three breakers along with the corresponding conducting finger 48 while the other conductor is similarly connected to the other conducting strip and tlie-\ terminal 5l of the other breaker in a similar manner. In this construction, each of the connecting members is held in place by engagement of one of its fingers 48 with one of the breaker terminals V5I so that the remaining connecting fingers 48 are disposed in the proper position forready engagement and disengagement with additional breakers. ASince the fingers are resilient and engage the breaker terminals' adjacent `the rigid clamping finger, each of them may be brought into proper engagement with the associated breaker terminal at the time the finger 9 is inserted into the notch I2. The breaker may then be thrust into-final clamped position through a pivotal movement about the rigid clamping finger without displacing the parts from the desired connecting position. The iiexible construction of the conducting fingers likewise permits the individual insertion or removal of a breaker .without it being necessary to interfere with the connection to other breakers energized through the same connecting member. As is best shown in Fig. 3, the insulating strips 49 of thev two connecting members form an insulating barrier for the upper breaker terminals, theA conducting strips 41 and the contact fingers 48.

Ground wires 53 of the circuit leads are connected directly 'to the ground strip 44 while the other circuit conductors-are individually connected to the lower terminals 52 of the breakers which are to control their continuity.

As previously pointed out. the apparatus discussed with reference to Figs. 1 through 4 is readily adaptable for projection mounting. In such a case the outer perimetral portion I9 of the cover is separated from the central portion Iby breaking along the weakened lines 2l and 2Ia. In such a case the perimetral portion of I the central portion i8 fits into engagement with the inwardly extending front perimetral portion 26 of the receptacle as shown in Fig.-5. It will appear that this engagement between the two surfaces adequately prevents the entrance of any foreign matter between the cover and receptacle. The cover is retained in position by machine screws 23 in the manner previously described and the remainder of the apparatus which is not shown in Fig. 5 may be the same as that shown in the preceding figures. The automatically adjustableconstruction of the cover insures that the auxiliary cover 34 will assume the proper position relative to the breakers irrespective of whether flush or projection mounting is employed.

VIn Fig. 6, a cover which is otherwise similar to the cover 3 includes a central portion i8' which has a perimetral offset 55 about the inner edge ofY the surface thereof engaging the flange 26 of the receptaclev 2. This offset will facilitate proper centering of the cover on the receptacle in the case of projection mounting. Y

Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive illustrate a modified form of receptacle which is suitable for either flush or projection mounting and may be other wise employed in the same manner as the apparatus previous described. This apparatus comprising a receptacle 58 having its front inwardly offset to form a perimetral shoulder portion 59 and a forwardly extending flange designated as 60 defining the opening therein. Four channel members designated as 62 are designed to fit about the front of the receptacle with one side engaging the shoulder 59 and the open portion extending toward the flange 60. Each of these channels is adapted to extend along one of the four sides of the receptacle and they may be cut at 45 degrees at their ends-as shown at 62a to form mitre joints. As shown by way of example in the drawings, machine screws 63 extend through spaced openings in the lower arms of the channels to engage corresponding screw threaded holes in the shoulder 59 for releasably securing the channel members in place. The upper arms of these members may be apertured at 64 to permit manipulation of the screws 63. With the channel members in place as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 a cover -3 similar to that previously described but without the outer perimetral portion i9 may be secured to the receptacle as by means of machine screws 66 extending into threaded engagement with holes in angle brackets 61 secured to the receptacle in spaced relationship about the opening therein. The perimetral por.

tion ofthe cover thus engages the flat upper arms of the channel members to prevent the entrance of foreign material. l

By removing the four channel members 62 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the above described receptacle is readily adapted for a flush mountinginstallation with a wall surface 10 extending within the perimetral space formed between the front offset portion of the receptacle and the cover 3.

Figs. 13 through 18 show a modified constructacle is also open and designed to be closed by a rear cover-lli having an opening surrounded by a ilange 'le for engaging the casing of a detachable meter ll in a manner which will be clear to those skilled in the art and as described more fully in the aforementioned copeiiding applica` tion.

Within the receptacle l2 is a dividing panel lil having a forwardly oiset portion il@ at its upper end and secured to the top and sides ci the receptacle as by welding or the like. .A U-shaped metal strap di is secured to this dividing panel to support insulating blocks e2 which,

in turn, carry clamping jaws 33 for engaging the terminal blades ci the detachable meter ll in a manner described in the previously mentioned Spa-rires application.

Also disposed within the receptacle 'l2 is a breaker supporting panel te which includes a Cmain back portion and forwardly extending sides @il which are Vbest shown in Fig. l5. Attached to each ci the side memberssdfl is a guide strap il@ which is arranged to siidably engage spaced angle bars @il which project forwardly from the panel d@ to support the panel et.

' in order to secure a predetermined number ci circuit breakers il from the panel Se, a plurality oi individual clamping devices similar to those portion rests upon a stop member @l 4extending irom the panel. il@ to furnish support thereto in a horizontal direction.

-ln Hg. i4, the receptacle ls disposed within a wall in hush relationship thereto. spaced supporting angle members designated as 92 are secured to the 'receptacle at a small distance from the inwardly turned front edges as 4by welding or the like. The spacing of these members from the iront edge is for the purpose of vpermitting the insertion or angle members 93 about the rectangularopening in the receptacle. Thus a rst side of eachof these angle members fits between the edge i3 and the members 92 sowas to have the 50 other side thereof project -forwardly from the front of the receptacle for engagement by a wa l surface QQ. Two of these angle members/are oppositely disposed and are preferably provided'with -protuberant portions 9% adjacent their ends as vshown Ain Fg. 1'7 so that the other 'two members will be clamped into assembled position between them in a readily detachable marmer. The angles will ordinarily be of a somewhat yielding or Scmbledlon the receptacle in a convenient manner. A cover el. is secured to the front of the receptacle into engagement with the Wall-@fl by machine screws lil' engaging screw threaded holes in certain of the ancle clamps 32. As .has been previously pointed out the-'supporting panelv 86 is movable relative to the front of the receptacle. Thu'sthe circuit breakers disposed thereon may be adjusted relative to the cover el by v' means of machine screws 9d extending there- 'te shown extend'ng into the receptafle 'l2 through aconduit l el. The ground conductor of this group 25 rear.

thus may loe fitted between these lingers. .llt its asvaoss is connected directly to a conducting strip It? disposed on the opposite side of the panel 'i3 while the other conductors are electrically connected to the line terminals of the detachable meter in a 5 usual manner. AThe load terminals of the meter are connected to the terminals 52 of the circuit breakers 8. Circuit conductors i l extending into the receptacle through a conduit H35 are connected to the ground strip |62 and the terminal lo 5l of a breaker.

The modied form of cover designated as Si is provided with an opening 3GB which is of such a size as to permit the operating handles of the total number of breakers that the receptacle will aclr commodate toy .extend therethrough. By way of example, however, the receptacle is shown as adapted to hold six breakers while only four are actually installed. vIn order to close the opening completely about the breakers, panels designated 2o generally as im are attached to the cover. As is best shown in Fig. 18, each of these panelsvcomprises a main portion 558 having its top slit as shown to provide two forwardly extending fingers l lil and a central finger l ll which extends to the The edge of the opening in the cover el lower end, the strip lut isbent forwardly as 'shown at M2 to engage the iront of the lower edge of the cover Si. An auxiliary strip ldd sattached so to the paneliil adjacent its bottom cud by means of a rivet l i5 and is freely pivotal thereabout. The point of attachment by means of the rivet is located much closer tc the upper end of the auxiliary strip than to the lower so that while the strip ordinarily extends against the back of a cover Si,

it may be rotated 186 to permit ready removal of the device l @l when itis desired to add another breaker to the installation. f

^ in Fig. 16, a receptacle llt having a front simili@ lar-to that of the receptacle r2 is Shown with the angle members 93 removed to adapt it Yfor a projection mounted installation. Circuit breakers d x are shown detachably mounted on a supporting notches l2 and i3 respectively. The cover Si is secured to the receptacle in engagement with the inturned flanges l thereof by machine screws lill threaded into openings in the angle supports 92. Conductors E22 extend into the receptacle through 55 the vconvertible receptacle front structure of Figs.

13 through 17 permits a convenient adaptation of a receptacle for either ush or projection mounti ing by either using or removing the angle members v Q3; While the adjustable supporting panel 8G .resilient construction to permit themto -be &S 180 permits adjustment ofthe location of the breakers to either type of mounting it will also appear that the substitution of the self-adjusting cover of Figs. ,1 through 4 will make the use of such a panel unnecessary in many cases.

Variousv advantages of the invention will be evident from the foregoing description. The con-J vertible receptacle arrangements permit the equipment to be sold in kit form suitable for either 'type of mounting. The other features of the invention contribute to provide a compact structure which is readily adaptable to accommodate changes in service requirements.

Since various modications of the apparatus shown and described by way of example will api5 pear to those skilled in the art, it is intended that panel Se by lingers 9. and llt 'exten-ding into the invention shall be limited onlyby the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination, an open front receptacle, an electrical device having operating means,

means for securing said device in saicl receptacle with its operating means facing lthe open front -thereof, a main cover andmieans for securing it to said receptacle, said cover having a central i opening andan inwardly extending flange disposed thereabout, an auxiliary cover member having an opening the perimetral edge oi which is to engage the front of said device about its operating means, an outwardly extending perimetral ange extending about the inwardly extending ange of said main coverin telescopic relation, and means for movably supporting said auxiliary cov'er member in resiliently biased relationship against said device.

3. In a mounting for an electrical controldevice having opposed notches in its top and bottomsm'faces,abase,aiirst'clampingiingerof substantially rigidconstruction Supported from saidbaseanddesignedtoiitwithinone ofsaid notches to permit pivotal movement of the device thereabout, a second iinger of resilient construction supported from said base and having a forwardly and outwardly sloping Portion designed to slide into the other said notch in response to pivotal movement of said device into a predetermined attached position, and means for engaging said device adjacent said flexible linger when in said attached position to secure it against said rigid linger.

4. In a mounting for a plurality -of electrical control devices each having upper and lower terminals and upper and lower attaching notches in its top and bottom respectively at its rear, a base member, a iirst group of substantially rigid clamping fingers supported from said base member in side-hy-side relationship and designed to fit into the upper notches of said devices to permit pivotal movement of the corresponding device thereabout, a second group of fingers of resilient construction supported in side-by-side relationship from said base member for readily attaohable and detachable engagement with the lower notches in said devices-in response to a pivotal movement into position about the co rigid finger, and a contact member including a main interconnecting strip and a plurality of resilient ngers extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom. said fingers being to extend normally to positions for engagement with the upper terminals of said devices when in attached position but being deformable therefrom to permit insertion or removal of the devices individually.

ERNEST G. JOHANSSON.

ARTHUR. A. YOUNG. 

